Patriots Pregame Thread We are on to Tampa Bay: AFCE vs NFCS division leaders, 2025 Week 10

[PP2]

I just looked; the expected high is 81. So not quite long underwear weather but not heatstroke territory.

To answer a previous question, the Navy would absorb more heat than the red the Pats use. The closer you are to black the more energy is absorbed rather than reflected.

I hate when people say a game feels like a playoff game. With a playoff game, it's lose and go home. But it feels big-game-y even if only 1/17 of the season rides on it.

Now Buffalo might be one that'll feel like a playoff game. But again, not really.

It's not really the heat as much as it is the humidity. You need to look at the heat index which factors in how the humidity exacerbates the temperature.

 

[BobDigital]

If Williams doesn't show something this game, the use of the 'B word' will start to be justified.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

It's not really the heat as much as it is the humidity. You need to look at the heat index which factors in how the humidity exacerbates the temperature.

I live in the DC area and went to school in Williamsburg, AKA "that swamp in the wilderness," as Jefferson or somebody called it. That said, 81 is 81. If it's not really the heat (incoming radiation,) the blue/blues wouldn't be that different if you swapped red and blue. But that gets into what has to be dark - I believe it's just the jersey. White or silver pants might bounce the light, fwiw

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Weird. Okay, weather channel says 85 degree high, not 81, and relative humidity of 74%. So yeah, pretty yucky/sticky.

 

[Ring 6]

Here's a real concern I have for this week, the weather. I saw a clip from Ninkovich on a talk show. In it, when he found out it was going to be a 1pm start, he winced. He said he hated 1pm starts in Tampa because of the heat AND humidity. He described how during warmups he struggled for breath, and how it was just hard to he hydrated and effects your sharpness.

Nothing you can do about it, and I'm sure it's worse in September, but it is probably a worse unfair advantage than the snow (which we no longer have much of before January) and cold advantage we have on southern teams. With cold weather you can add layers to mitigate the cold. There is nothing you can do about the heat but try and bear it.

I wonder if it might be a small benefit if we traveled to Tampa on Friday night and at least get a full day + to gain some kind of comfort level, so the heat just isn't like a shock, as Ninko described.

Ken I can ease your concern.
Rob Ninkovich never played a game at Tampa.
In his career he played Tampa twice, once at home and once in London.

 

[neuronet]

It’s expected to be overcast so blue/red shouldn’t make a difference

 

[Triumph]

 

[jmt57]

As noted above, the cliche 'it's not the heat, it's the humidity' is 100% accurate.

The rainy season/dry season in the Tampa area is the opposite of New England.
The humidity is severe every day from May to September/October, building up so much moisture in the air that you get a hard rain storm like clockwork every afternoon.
On the other hand it is dry and seldom rains from November to April, to the point of not being uncommon to have watering restrictions.


The humidity has been imperceptible here for the last few weeks.
As far as the temperature goes and how it feels, it is close to perfect (especially with no tourists clogging the roads here yet).
It has been cooling off enough that many have (finally) put away their shorts, and are now wearing jeans again.

Is it warmer, with a higher humidity than Boston?
Yes of course.
But even if the temp goes up on Sunday compared to the last several days, it should not be a factor; or if so, very minimal.


You can't equate the weather conditions when playing in Miami in week one or two, to the weather conditions in Tampa in mid-November. They're not remotely close.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Tampa heat? What are you all going on about?

Forecast is 82 on Sunday.

Why is this weird?
TB has their choice at home.
I assume they are wearing white and sticking us with dark on purpose.

Pats don’t have to wear matching blue pants with their jersey. The monochrome look in the heat is pointless. That’s what I was referring to.

Why wouldn’t they wear road whites? Is that not an option?

Tampa Bay is wearing their white jersey and pewter pants which forces NE to wear their home jersey. If the players truly cared, they’d tell Bobby they want to wear the silver pants or even try white pants with it to stay as cool as possible.

 

[mgteich]

If Williams doesn't show something this game, the use of the 'B word' will start to be justified.

No 3rd rounder is a bust after playing only half a year.

That being said, if Williams doesn't look better in the next couple of game, he should be red-shirted for the rest of the season.

 

[turkeyneck]

Forecast is 82 on Sunday.

Pats don’t have to wear matching blue pants with their jersey. The monochrome look in the heat is pointless. That’s what I was referring to.

Tampa Bay is wearing their white jersey and pewter pants which forces NE to wear their home jersey. If the players truly cared, they’d tell Bobby they want to wear the silver pants or even try white pants with it to stay as cool as possible.

Pat Patriot white helmet, red jerseys, white pants.

 

[NCPATSFAN1971]

A few things. First of all, I'm looking at this game against Tampa like I look at any other game and that's with cautious optimism. We could get blown out, we could blow them out, win a tight game, or lose a tight game. I really don't have a clue.

However, a couple of questions I have is Tampa Bay better than Buffalo? Although Baker has proven he can win close games, is he better than Josh Allen? Lastly, I wonder if it's more difficult to play in Buffalo post Brady then Tampa?

Lastly, I agree 100% with jmt57 regarding weather should be a non-factor. I lived in South Florida for 10 years and weatherwise, Tampa Bay is not Miami. I've also had season tickets on the sun side at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro and baked in the heat in Sept with the temp well over 80 degrees with relatively high humidity (the team eventually wised up and moved their bench over to the shade side and let the visiting team enjoy the heat on the sun side. OTOH, we all froze our asses off in December. Ohhh I miss those aluminum seats.

So like I said I'm cautiously optimistic about this game!

 

[Real fan 02]

The Pats have 3 distinct negatives they have to deal with in this game that have nothing to do with personnel. First is the heat, and second the fact the Bucs have had TWO weeks to prepare for them. And the third is it's an away game, and that is always a disadvantage as we all know.

Even those who are predicting a Patriots loss, and most do; this is likely going to be a one score game well into the 4th quarter. TO's will figure heavily into the eventual outcome (as always).

Finally, if the Pats lose a close game, don't be surprised to see the national mediate to race to jump off that Pats bandwagon, just as they have on the Colts this week. Recency bias is HUGE among the sports media and a secondary definition for the term "Frontrunner" is sports media "experts". So, if we DO end up winning this game, the hype will be HUGE.

Fortunately week 2 they were down in south Florida for the fins game. So that in turn was a good experience for them.

I'm going to continue to say that without Godwin and Evans the defense isn't facing a high powered bucs offense. Egbuka is a good but.. if all pro gonzo plays man he can erase him.. play zone then baker is going to feast on the secondary.

 

[TommyD4207]

It’s expected to be overcast so blue/red shouldn’t make a difference

I really just wish it were the next day, when it will be in the 50s in Tampa.

 

[PatsFan2]

Fortunately week 2 they were down in south Florida for the fins game. So that in turn was a good experience for them.

I'm going to continue to say that without Godwin and Evans the defense isn't facing a high powered bucs offense. Egbuka is a good but.. if all pro gonzo plays man he can erase him.. play zone then baker is going to feast on the secondary.

I expect McDaniels to be very aggressive with the playcalling: I me run up the score kind of aggressive. IF KW's is still struggling to get going: I expect us to see a lot of Pop Douglas. IF we win this week's game I think we have a 90% chance of getting the First seed: barring key injuries of course.

 

[PatsFan2]

I really just wish it were the next day, when it will be in the 50s in Tampa.

I think the Miami and all the heat stuff is overrated. I think any player would prefer the heat over bitter cold. The Majority of these Players vacation in warmer areas in the Offseason.

 

[TommyD4207]

I think the Miami and all the heat stuff is overrated. I think any player would prefer the heat over bitter cold. The Majority of these Players vacation in warmer areas in the Offseason.

You know what they don't do in the offseason? Play football for 3 and a half hours.

 

[PatsFan2]

You know what they don't do in the offseason? Play football for 3 and a half hours.

Wow I didn't know thanks for the enlightenment.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

Ugh... One of the few things I DIDN'T miss about us being the best team in the league.

I'm setting the over/under on the number of times Romo glazes Mahomes during this game at 147.5 and yes I aware he's not on either team. PLACE YOUR BETS!

 

[TommyD4207]

Ugh... One of the few things I DIDN'T miss about us being the best team in the league.

I'm setting the over/under on the number of times Romo glazes Mahomes during this game at 147.5 and yes I aware he's not on either team. PLACE YOUR BETS!